1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
the movie pairs a sly, dissembling ex-con with an upstanding, straight-arrow cop
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
why, you sly fellow! I had no idea you were planning my birthday party a sly undercover police officer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a sly sense of humor
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sly
Some fans took it as a sly comment towards her relationship.
—
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 25 June 2025
In a moment of sly genius, Duke gained entry by concealing himself as one of Lyle’s ghostly henchmen using a rubber band and a piece of white tissue as his disguise.
—Hazlitt, 18 June 2025
From sly grog shops to speakeasies, people created places to connect and celebrate, even when the world tried to keep them apart.
—Rebecca Styn, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
In practice, this would be a field day for NIMBY types (or sly hotel owners) who have an alderman’s ear (or the means to boost an aldermanic bank account).
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sly
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 25 June 2025
In a moment of sly genius, Duke gained entry by concealing himself as one of Lyle’s ghostly henchmen using a rubber band and a piece of white tissue as his disguise.
—Hazlitt, 18 June 2025
From sly grog shops to speakeasies, people created places to connect and celebrate, even when the world tried to keep them apart.
—Rebecca Styn, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
In practice, this would be a field day for NIMBY types (or sly hotel owners) who have an alderman’s ear (or the means to boost an aldermanic bank account).
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sly
Adjective
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With wit and cunning, the protagonists navigate the ever-present systems of oppression that encircle them and their relationships.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
-
President Trump does not exhibit Bismarck’s cunning, inscrutability, or proclivity for complicated diplomacy.—
Charles C. W. Cooke,
National Review,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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One of them is Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend), a shady pharmaceuticals bigwig who wants to develop the world’s most effective heart medication using dinosaur blood samples.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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Old-school bedding impatiens will bloom continuously in a shady spot.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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The sophisticated audiences of 2025 require a little more grit, more mischievous fun.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Zada lives up to the mischievous troublemaker in Lockhart’s book.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Amazon is stocked with tons of cute coin purses that capture the kawaii aesthetic of Japanese street style.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2025
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Pair this long-line padded sports bra crop tank with a pair of leggings for a cute athletic look.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Instead, studies suggest that, in practice, work and other eligibility requirements achieve a lot of savings in a sort of sneaky way.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
26 June 2025
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At age 17, Brown learned the truth, thanks to Barr’s fame — and, allegedly, a sneaky ex-boyfriend, the comedian recalled to Bunnie.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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People used to hang iron on their doors to keep fae and other wicked spirits out at night.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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What makes the series so delightful is Osman’s wicked sense of humor, and the empathy suffused throughout.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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In this edition, the grey tone reflects the muted, misty landscape of the British coast, with subtle variations achieved through multiple layers of transparent lacquer.—
Matthew Catellier,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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The result was a robust workforce forecasting model, one that’s sophisticated enough to consider the subtle complexities of human behavior and help identify potential attrition risks.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Mounting fear within the Jewish and Conservative communities of New York is that Mamdani’s furtive stance of justice for Palestine and divestment from Israel is stoking the flame of more virulent Anti-Semitism to come.—
Alexandra Bregman,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The clip, which shows the dog giving its owner furtive side-eye while cautiously walking by captured the breed's endearing blend of innocence and mischief.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sly. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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